UN Reports UAE Uses Anti-Terror Measures to Justify Oppression

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has stated that the UAE’s anti-terrorism efforts are being exploited to justify repression and tyranny, undermining public rights and freedoms.
In his annual report on terrorism and human rights, Türk highlighted the detrimental effects of anti-terror legislation in the UAE. He raised alarms over the mass trial of 84 detainees, which has further restricted civil liberties, including notable cases like that of Mohammed Al-Mansoori and human rights advocate Ahmed Mansoor, arrested for their collaboration with UN bodies.

Türk also pointed out that although Al-Mansoori completed his ten-year sentence in July 2023 for peaceful reform advocacy, he remains in custody without any information about his location.

Ahmed Mansoor, a leading human rights defender, has been featured in multiple UN reports since 2014, facing reprisals for his collaboration with human rights bodies.
In March 2024, the High Commissioner raised alarms over new charges against 84 individuals, including activists and journalists, highlighting that these were rooted in “counter-terrorism” laws that clash with human rights norms.
Recently, UAE authorities imposed a staggering 1,075 years in combined prison sentences on numerous prisoners of conscience simply for voicing their opinions.
The Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center highlighted that in a world that still values freedom and considers it the cornerstone of any civilized society, there are those who pay the price of speech, a price that goes beyond the known limits of taxes, to reach the shackles of the soul and the assassination of freedom.

He noted that 43 Emirati activists, each with their own viewpoints, were sentenced to life imprisonment solely for using their words as a means to confront a complex and oppressive political environment.

This unprecedented ruling marks a significant moment in the UAE’s history, as the authorities have never before imposed life sentences for cases related to freedom of expression—let alone on such a large scale.

The center emphasized that the life sentences handed down to these 43 individuals are shocking by any standard. In total, these sentences amount to 1,075 years in prison, illustrating the severity of repression faced by those who dare to voice their opinions.

The sheer number of life sentences issued for expressing beliefs is a staggering indication of the crackdown on free expression in the UAE.

This shocking verdict reflects an alarming decline in human rights in the UAE, underscoring that the cost of free speech can reach unimaginable extremes.

The total of 1,075 years in prison represents not just numbers on a page, but lives stolen, families torn apart, and dreams buried under the weight of endless confinement. These sentences epitomize profound cruelty and a disturbing trend towards silencing dissent at any cost.

While Arabic literature is rich with tales of suffering and the fight for freedom, the plight of these 43 activists goes beyond mere physical imprisonment; it encompasses a profound confinement of the spirit and mind.
This prison embodies a reality that rejects intellectual diversity and silences dissenting voices. These prisoners are not merely victims of harsh laws; they are martyrs for free speech, challenging the silence enforced by oppressive regimes.

While it may be easy for some to overlook their stories, viewing them only as statistics or cases in human rights reports, the truth is that each individual represents a world of hopes and dreams, each with a narrative filled with aspirations cut short and suffering endured.

Life continues outside the prison walls, but for these individuals, existence is frozen. Each passing day serves as a stark reminder of the unjust price they are forced to pay. Their families, friends, and supporters share this heavy burden, all yearning for the moment of justice and their eventual release, while time slips away and they remain confined.
Throughout history, no authority has managed to silence the voice of truth permanently. While it may suppress and instill fear temporarily, ultimately it is defeated by the people’s will and the power of expression. Words have always been mightier than any weapon and harsher than any punishment.

Words cannot be confined; they soar in the realm of freedom. Yet in the Emirates, they have been shackled, and walls built around them. How can a life sentence serve as a response to an opinion or idea? Such punishment signifies a slow death of the spirit and reflects society’s inability to embrace diverse viewpoints.

The center emphasizes that those sentenced to life imprisonment are victims of a system that views independent thought as a threat. They suffer under a political climate that rejects criticism and punishes dissent.
Their trial was merely a tool for control, sending a stark warning to anyone daring to think differently.
He emphasized that the situation in the Emirates serves as a wake-up call for the entire world. When speech is imprisoned, a vital part of our humanity is also confined. Sentencing individuals to life in prison for merely expressing their opinions indicates a profound distortion of justice, reducing freedom to an empty concept.
Al-Rakaz concluded, “The cost of speech in the Emirates goes beyond court rulings; it reflects a grim reality where oppression reigns and dissenting thought is stifled. Yet, speech will remain free and capable of overcoming any barriers, no matter how formidable. While these 43 men may currently be behind bars, their ideas and voices will continue to resonate globally, for free speech cannot be extinguished, even by oppressive regimes seeking to bury it.”